| The history of Abkhazia is inseparably linked with the history of the Georgia . These fertile lands were chosen Abkhaz tribes from time immemorial. In 6th century BC the first city states started to appear on the territories of Abkhazia. They were founded by Greeks (Dioscuria - present Sukhumi , Guenos – now Ochamchira, Pitiunt- now Pitsunda). In 65 th BC the Romans built Sebastopois in Dioscuria. In 4th-6th centuries AD Abkhazia was a part of the Byzantian Empire and Abkhazian tribes accepted Christianity. In general, throughout centuries Abkhazian land was targeted by overseas aggressors: Byzantines, Arabs, Genoeses, etc. In the 9th-10th centuries there was an independent Abkhazian kingdom (the territory of entire Western Georgia ), prospering under the rule of Leon II and later included in the structure of United Georgia. Byzantian culture was replaced by Georgian.
From the mid 16 th century to early 19 th century Abkhazia was under the yoke of Turkish aggressors who spread Islam among Christians of Abkhazia. Since then there is no homogeneous religion in Abkhazia. Both Christians and Moslems live there. From the 19 th century Abkhazia was within the structure of Russia , and then the USSR .
The last page of Abkhazian history is connected with the war for independence (1992-93).
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